the thick cluster of trees, overhanging it, at the turn of the river?" "I do." Well, that's one of my out-factories; there I've ordered some of my people to be in waiting with horses, or an elephant, to take us on to my shop, which is about six miles inland." "An elephant!" I ejaculated, as I mentally rubbed my hands. There was now a general stir in the boat, the servants collecting their bundles preparatory to a move, whilst the boatmen plied their oars with redoubled vigour, their cheerful songs and shouts bespeaking that buoyancy of heart which an approach to "Dulce Domum ever inspires amongst all mankind. We now neared the white building, which proved to be a small temple, crowning a little ghaut or flight of steps, running down to the water's edge, backed by something like an old ruined fort or factory, overshadowed by masses of foliage of the banyan and peepul trees, growing out of fissures of the walls. On the crest of the ghaut stood an elephant, caparisoned with his bright red jhoul and howdah, fanning himself with the branch of a tree; hard by him, a couple of horses, saddled, and held by their syces or grooms, each of whom bore a hog-spear; whilst near and around, groups of villagers, factory servants, and followers of Mr. Augustus, in various picturesque costumes and attitudes, some squatting in masses, some standing, others reclining on the steps or abutments of the ghaut, were all impatiently awaiting the arrival of the boat. These groups, backed by the ruined walls, the massive banyan with its twining roots, and a little sort of bungalow, or summerhouse, on the projecting bastions, which stood out in strong relief against the evening sky, all constituted, when viewed in the mellow sunlight of the rich Claude-like repose of the hour, a scene well worthy of the pencil of a Daniell. The boat moored, a lively greeting and embracing took place between those on board and their friends at the factory, for the Indians, I have observed, though in some things apathetic, are remarkably affectionate, whilst their conduct to their relatives may well shame the nations who are so anxious to convert them. Augustus himself stepped ashore with all the dignity of a monarch returning from exile to his dominions, amidst the bows and prostrations of his rejoicing subjects. Great were the salaamings, and manifold the signs of vitality, which Augustus's arrival caused in the group. The syces tightened the girths of the horses; two stately greyhounds rose from a recumbent posture, whilst a couple of little pepper and mustard terriers ran yelping and wagging their tails to greet their master; the mahout dug his ankous, or goad, into the elephant's head, to rouse him from his drowsy state of abstraction, exciting a loud trumpeting scream as he drove down towards the boat. The gomastah, or manager, a Bengalee, in flowing muslin robes, now advanced, with a dignified salaam, and made a report of how things had gone on in his absence, whilst a Portuguese, of the complexion of charcoal, with a battered hat and white jacket, named Alphonso da Silva, also had a great deal to say touching the recent operations connected with the manufacture of his master's indigo. "Now, Mr. Gernon," said Augustus, "these matters settled, which are you for, a gallop or a ride on the elephant? take your choice." Oh, the elephant," said I, "by all means. I have never ridden on one, and long to be on that noble fellow, who looks like a moving mountain." "Then," said my kind-hearted host, "let us mount. I see they have put the guns in the howdah, and we may have a shot at something as we go along. I must give you a lesson in shooting off an elephant, which is no easy matter to a young hand. Here, hauthee laou (' bring the elephant")." Another dig and another startling blast, and the leviathan was alongside of us. "Buth! buth"" said the driver, and down knelt the docile beast to receive us. The coolie, or attendant, now

applied the ladder to his side; Augustus ascended, and I followed him. Here, then, was one of my Oriental day-dreams realised, and I fairly boxed up on the elephant and castle !"

'Tis a fine thing to be mounted on a gallant charger; to spurn the sounding sod, and, catching all his fire, to feel yourself "every inch " a hero; to dash away in a brave ship, with a spanking breeze, as free as the winds that propel you, over the blue billows; but I doubt if even they can impart such sensations as you experience when towering aloft on the back of an elephant, nine feet high, moving, with majestic and stately stride, through palmy scenes of Orient beauty, raised far above the humble pedestrian, and taking in the whole country as with an eagle glance.

We now started at a good swinging pace, followed by the horses, sundry burkundazes and peons, with spears and staves, trotting on nimbly before, and clearing the way of the boys, cows, village pariar dogs, and idlers. Alongside ran a dooriah, or dog-keeper, with the aforementioned couple of greyhounds in a leash, and a terrier or two, whilst my huntsman, or matur, brought up the rear with Teazer and the bull-dog, who, poor beasts, seemed right glad to stretch their legs. Thus we wound through the village, and soon entered on the open country, which for the most part was perfectly flat, and bounded by villages and topes of mango trees. Here and there the land rose a little, forming a sort of rough pastures, on which herds of the black slouching buffaloes were feeding, mingled with small white Bengalee cows and bullocks, their bells tinkling, and tended by herdsmen enveloped in blanket sort of hoods, with long sticks over their shoulders. We had not proceeded far on the plain, when a horseman appeared in the distance, approaching us at a hand-gallop. "Halloo!" said Augustus, "here comes my neighbour and brother-planter, Mons. De la Chasse, as funny, but as good a fellow as ever breathed. I hope you have a tolerable command of countenance, for you'll require it when you hear our friend's English. By this time Mons. De la Chasse was sufficiently near for me to distinguish the Gaul in every lineament. He was a long and gaunt man, with the face of a vieux musquetaire, wore a white solar hat, with a vast amplitude of brim, a white jacket, and long military boots. His horse was a large hatchet-faced animal, of a cream colour, with a swish tail, which however bore him along over bush and jungle in capital style. As he approached, brandishing a hog-spear, he rather brought to my mind the picture of a Spanish bull-fighter. "Velcome! velcome! goot friend; glad to see you back," said he, riding up and waving his hand as he wheeled his horse about. "You look ver well, by Jhobs." "Thank'ye, thank'ye, Monsieur ; and what have you been doing in this part of the world ?" "Oh, de old vay. Ve have had de jodge down, and one of his amis, abote some cochery affaires ; had him out for a day after de hogue; killed two, tree-one old boar give fine sport-ver fine; near kill us though, by Jhobs; ha! ha!-But who that wid you, Capsicome ?" "Oh, a young friend of my father's, come to see how we carry on the war down here. Let me introduce him to you-Gernon, Mons. De la Chasse, &c." "Appi see you amongst us, Sare.-By de vay, I not tell a-you I have had 'noder kick ope with dat Bobberygunge talookdar; d-m fellow, his bulloke spoil twenty beegah my plant. I shall him have ope to de jodge, by Jhobs-he is a-a-a (casting about for a suitable expression, and setting his teeth) a frightful shackass." This moved my risibles, in spite of a gentle poke from Augustus's elbow, and a reproving look compounded of gravity and laughter. Fortunately, at this juncture, a dismal yell broke on our ears, and we perceived a-head of us, slinking across the plain, two animals

somewhat larger than foxes. "What are they?" I asked. Oh, a couple of jackals," said my companion. "Would you like to see a run?" I eagerly expressed my assent, and as this was my first introduction to Indian sport, I shall describe it rather minutely.

"De la Chasse," said Mr. Augustus, "take a gallop after those jackals; our friend here wants to see a hunt." Oh, aye, ve'll stir dem ope," said the light-hearted Frenchman, who, like his countrymen in general, seemed ready for any thing that promised excitement. "Choorda khoota choorda!" ('let loose the dogs, let loose'), he shouted, and in a moment the greyhounds were slipped." Hark away!" shouted Augustus; the Gaul gave the View halloo, and after the jackals darted the beautiful animals; their bodies undulating like serpents as they emulously strove to pass each other. The small dogs followed in full cry, and my matur, or master of the hounds, not to be outdone and justly anxious for the reputation of his charges, drew the cords of the bull-dog and Teazer, lustily cheering them on. The former, being unused to this sort of thing, looked scared, and rather disposed to run the wrong way; but Teazer, my much slandered Teazer, as if anxious to vindicate himself from the aspersions of Captain Marpeet, joined in the chace in a most creditable manner, exhibiting a power of foot and tongue which greatly raised him in my estimation. The jackals, hearing the coming storm, pricked up their ears, and stopped a moment to gaze, as if to ascertain if they were the objects, and then, having evidently adopted that disagreeable conclusion, away they went, their tails on end, for the nearest cover, as hard as their legs could carry them. It was about a mile and a-half to the nearest belt of wood, and the jackals, straining every nerve, bore right away to gain its friendly shelter; but the greyhounds, in spite of the long start, were coming up with them "hand over hand," whilst the Frenchman, like Death on the pale horse, or a spectral hunter of the Hartz, looming large on the horizon, was urging them on with his hand and voice. Our mahout, too, catching the excitement of the chace, was digging away with his ankous into the elephant's head, with the vigour of a stone-mason, urging him to his fastest pace, in order that we might lose none of the fun.

It was amazingly exciting-this my first taste of the wild sports of the East. All were now far a-head. The jackals had nearly gained the cover, but the dogs were close upon them; the pursued, like ships chased, separate -the dogs follow one; he makes a circuit-hah! they have him. A cloud rises in the evening sunlight-he rolls in the dust. They are giving him the fatal shake; we soon come up. De la Chasse was leaning on his spear. The greyhounds, with panting sides and lolling tongues, were standing by, having done their work, and the small curs-like curs all the world over-were venting their rage on the humbled, defenceless foe. I begged to have the tail or brush as a trophy, but Mr. Augustus assured me I might as well carry a box of assafoetida in my pocket. Our Gothic progenitors, among the other joys of Valhalla, feasted all night on the boar, who, resuscitating himself for their especial gratification, was hunted by them again the next morning. The jackal in some degree resembles this valuable pig. After a quarter of an hour's worrying and shaking, and being regularly stretched out in a state of deathlike repose, I have known a jackal to get up and stagger off, like Falstaff from the field of Shrewsbury, so soon as by observation, out of the corner of his eye, he had ascertained that his enemies were at a convenient distance; their cunning, as well as toughness, is indeed prodigious.

Leaving our game, we soon regained the road, and in half an hour reached

I put

the Junglesoor factory. The residence was a square building of one story, surrounded by a terrace and covered verandah; on one side was a large garden, filled with orange and other trees. Further back were groves of bamboo, mango, &c. intermingled with buildings, vats, stables, &c. We dismounted, and Augustus invited the Frenchman to come in and sup; but he declined, pleading a necessity for returning home; but he added, "Ven vil you come take your luck-pote vid me ?" "Ha! ha! ha! pot-luck, I suppose you mean, Monsieur ?" Yais, to be sure," said the goodnatured Frenchman; de horse only before de cart. What you mean, you Capsicome, by laughing at me?" said he, poking at him with the butt-end of his hog-spear. After other good-humoured passes between them, it was arranged that La Chasse was to come over the day after the ensuing, to breakfast, make a day of it, and hunt ope de hogue," and he was to bring a friend. I now entered with my friend, and proceeded to the dining-room. We found the candles lighted, and every preparation for a comfortable meal. We had a roast goose, curry-fish, prawns, &c. to which we did ample justice; a cool bottle of claret was then produced; Augustus changed his boots for slippers, cocked his legs on the table, ordered his hookha, and another for the purpose of initiating me, and we were soon in that blissful state, compounded of overflowing health, light hearts, moderate fatigue, and a delightful sense of repletion, when the heart expands, and all the better feelings of our nature predominate. I have always thought that the first and most effectual step towards making men good is to make them happy.

The following day was devoted by Augustus to repose and domestic arrangements-things having fallen a little into arrear during his absence. In the course of the morning, however, he took me round his estate, shewed me his garden, his stables, and his farm-yard; also his indigo-vats, his drying-houses, &c.; whilst exhibiting the latter, he explained to me the process of manufacturing the dye. The morrow at length arrived, the sun rose in splendour, the weather for the season (the beginning of October) was breezy and cool, and all things seemed to wear a propitious aspect, and to promise a delightful day's sport. In a short time, De la Chasse arrived, accompanied by a square, tight-built little man, named Tupper, who had recently (as is not unfrequent in India) changed his berth of mate of a country ship for that of an indigoplanter's assistant. An abundant breakfast duly despatched, there was a buckling on of spurs, a slinging of brandy-bottles, an examination of hog-spears, and other preliminary movements for the foray. Outside, too, was a great muster of Augustus's retainers, coolies or factory men, real "blue demons," in almost Paradisaic costume, with long sticks, or latees, over their shoulders, wherewith to beat the jungles; at the head of these were two or three burkundazes, fine, bearded, up-country fellows (of whom many are employed in the Bengalee indigo-factories as chokeydars, or watchmen), armed with spears and tulwars, or scymetars, their broad, orb-like shields hanging on their ample shoulders, and actively engaged cuffing, punching, and marshalling the beaters. Besides these, there were several kulasses prepared to accompany us; one bore a goblet of cool water, encircled by a wet cloth; another a leathern case, slung round his neck, containing a bottle of brandy shrab and a tumbler; a third carried a bangy laden with biscuits, sandwiches, and the like; in short, we were armed and victualled for a most determined campaign against the tenants feræ naturæ of the vicinity.

Augustus now vaulted on his Arab, a beautiful creature, with a high reputation, as I was told, as a hog-hunter (horses in India enjoy the sport as much

as their masters), and with his spear in hand gave the signal for departure. Out marched the whole cavalcade, I mounted on a sturdy, little, hill pony, called a tangan, as hard-mouthed and head-strong a little devil, as I afterwards discovered to my cost, as ever tumbled a griffin. Each of us hunters was armed with a spear, whilst spare ones were carried by the syces. The spear used in this sport, by the way, appeared a very formidable weapon. The shaft in about seven feet long, the head an elongated heart, or rather leaf-shape, as keen as a razor, and, to aid the murderous effect of the weapon, the butt-end is loaded with about half a pound of lead.

We formed a group fit for the pen of Chaucer, as we wound along the plain, bending our course for the banks of a river, where wild hogs and other game were said to abound. Having crossed the plain, we found ourselves amongst mango groves and woodland, interspersed with scattered huts and small villages, and I became, by some accident, separated a good distance from my companions. In passing the edge of a tope, or mango grove, an adventure happened, which, though somewhat derogatory to my dignity in its results, my integrity as a historian obliges me to relate. A pause in the narrative may, however, be expedient, in order to give me the requisite degree of composure.